The Policy Pulse

This week Congress passed and the President signed an appropriations package that funds a number of federal agencies through Fiscal Year 2026, including the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.

The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) exists to educate, advocate, empower, and inspire on behalf of people with Down syndrome and the families and communities who support them.

States are suing the federal government in Texas v. Kennedy (formerly Texas v. Becerra). If successful, the lawsuit would threaten the rights of millions of people with disabilities to live and participate in their communities.

The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) has heard about recent incidents in which people with Down syndrome were treated harshly and in an undignified way during interactions with law enforcement.

The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) has heard about recent incidents in which people with Down syndrome were treated harshly and in an undignified way during interactions with law enforcement. These situations are deeply concerning and underscore the urgent need for disability-informed training, policies, and practices nationwide. People with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to be safe in their communities. Communication differences, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or slower processing time must never be mistaken for noncompliance or escalation.

Congressional appropriations committees have rejected the President's proposed block-granting and elimination of IDEA programs, including parent training and information centers, personnel preparation, and technical assistance centers, thanks to the advocacy of the disability community.

Congressional appropriations committees agreed on a bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bill that provides slightly more money for education programs than current levels, rather than the steep cuts proposed in the President’s budget request.

The Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council (IHEAC) and the University of Rochester have received a $1 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand accreditation for inclusive higher education programs serving students with intellectual disability (ID).

In response to the recent uptick in the use of the “R word” in public dialogue, The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) issues the following statement. 

NDSC condemns the use of the “R-word” in all contexts, regardless of intention and without exception. It is disrespectful and dehumanizing to all people with intellectual disabilities.